Letter: Give Libertarians a look

My name is Keen Umbehr and I am the Libertarian Candidate for Governor in 2014. Presumably, my opponents will be Governor Sam Brownback and House minority leader Paul Davis.

In this post, I will explain what Libertarians believe and then what kind of Libertarian I am.

The short answer for what a libertarian believes is this: Dont hit people and dont take their stuff. It kind of sounds like the golden rule, but there it is.

The long answer of what Libertarians support includes the following:

1. Personal and economic freedom for all citizens; 2. Respect for the property rights of others; 3. Equal treatment for all citizens regardless of race, creed, etc.; 4. Private giving to help those in need; 5. Robust national defense and non-interventionist foreign policy; 6. Privacy and civil liberties are a natural right; 7. Individual freedom and personal responsibility; 8. Support for choice in a market-based educational system; 9. Trusting free citizens to manage their own life and maximize happiness.

These Libertarian views, as well as the Republican and Democratic principles, can be expanded beyond their reasonable limits. However, the purpose of all political viewpoints must be understood in the context of running a government.

As for my personal Libertarian ethos:

1. I am a fiscally conservative therefore I believe that State government has grown too large, has assumed too large of role in our daily lives; and with few exceptions, every new law passed by the Kansas Legislature degrades more of our freedom and liberty. 2. I am a strict constitutionalist therefore I am committed to protecting the civil liberties of every Kansas citizens. (See Board of County Commissioners, Wabaunsee County v. Umbehr, 518 U.S. 668.) 3. I believe that the current income tax plan that grants 191,000 business owners a zero income tax rate while at the same time forcing 1,320,920 W-2 wage earners to pay all the income tax is unfair, inequitable and discriminatory. I advocate granting all Kansas citizens a zero income tax rate. This legislation must be passed in the 2015 Kansas legislative secession. 4. In regards to education, I believe every Kansas student deserves the best education we can provide them; therefore I support legislation wherein the $12,500 in state and federal education funds apportioned to each student should follow the student not the building. I support home schools, private schoosl, church run schools, military schools and functioning public schools. I oppose Common Core and I would have vetoed the education bill signed by the Governor. 5. I believe in Government accountability and transparency. The KOMA and KORA statutes need to be amended so that if a Plaintiff wins a case against a government agency, the defending agency must be ordered to pay the Plaintiffs attorney fees. 6. I believe in free market principles and therefore believe in direct primary health care.

I have been married to Eileen Umbehr for 36 years, have four grown sons; was a trashman for 17 years; at the age of 40, went to college (KSU) with my son, Josh, and received a Political Science degree; graduated from Washburn Law School in 2005 and have been a practicing lawyer for 8 years in Alma, Kansas.

My Lt. Governor is my son, Dr. Josh Umbehr. Check out his website at http://www.atlas.md/wichita and you will see why I chose him.

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Letter: Give Libertarians a look